Letters to the editor Aug. 28

Published: August 28, 2012 4:00AM

Comments reflect GOP positions

Editor:

"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has always shut that whole thing down." This outrageous and medically ignorant statement from Todd Akin, a member of the House of Representatives and Republican candidate for the U.S. senate in Missouri, has caused a firestorm of protest across this country.

Akin argues that abortion is an unneeded alternative to victims of rape, thus supporting the 2012 Republican platform (passed last week in Tampa) for a Constitutional amendment banning abortion nationwide without exception for cases of rape and incest.

Despite indignation expressed by the Republican ticket of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan regarding Akin's statements, Akin has exposed the true agenda of the Republican Party to rob women of their reproductive rights.

Akin apologized for his choice of words, he meant to say "forcible" rather than legitimate rape, a term coined by vice presidential candidate Ryan, who teamed up with Akin to co-sponsor anti-choice bill HR 3 which would redefine rape and prevent survivors from access to abortion services.

Moreover, Ryan has supported more than one House bill, the so-called Sanctity of Human Life Act, that grants "personhood" to the fertilized human egg. The passage of such a bill would place in jeopardy commonly used birth control measures as "the pill" and the IUD whose effectiveness, in part, is to prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

Make no mistake, the Republican Party, from its candidates for the White House to those who have written the Republican platform for the convention in Tampa, is determined to interfere in women's reproductive health, from birth control to the victims of rape. Be afraid, be very afraid of the Republican social agenda!

L.R. Nault

Wooster

Obama choice for middle class

Editor:

This presidential election makes me sick, figuratively and literally. Both Republican and Democratic ads are filled with false innuendos and outright lies. Neither candidate nor their supporters will deal with the issues.

President Obama certainly hasn't earned a second term in office by fixing the economy. Would John McCain have done any better? I think not. To fix the economy we need the cooperation of all branches of government. We all know our congress has done nothing to help the situation. All they do is squabble.

The previous Republican administration so deregulated banks and Wall Street that it led us into the recession in which we are mired. They took us into an unnecessary and unjustified war in Iraq which has cost us dear in blood and treasure. Their trickle down theory of economics has only made the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and has practically eliminated the middle class.

The current Republican party and its candidate espouse the same basic philosophy -- give tax breaks to the wealthy -- and they will create jobs and make us all better off. It didn't work before and it won't work now. The current Republican Party is so radical and so far right that former President Reagan would be considered a liberal!

Yes we need to reduce spending, but it is an outright lie to say we can cut the deficit without increased revenue from taxes. It will take both spending cuts and increased revenues. Mitt Romney and his friends certainly don't want to pay more taxes, and they are spending millions of dollars to make sure they don't have to by electing another Republican president. Please understand that their motivation is not to make life better for you and me.

While president Obama's motivation may also be in question, he does have some small accomplishments. He brought an end to the war in Iraq. The stimulus issued during his administration did rescue the auto industry. He has stood up for women's rights. He has set a date for ending our endless involvement in Afghanistan.

In November I will make the only choice I have -- the choice that is best for any clear-thinking middle class American -- and vote for the re-election of President Obama. I hope many of you will do the same.

Mitch Mills

West Salem

Greenhouse beautifies downtown

Editor:

I would like to commend Buchwalter Green House for the great job they do in the beautification of downtown Wooster. The flowers look magnificent.

Bob Fisher

Wooser

Want to leave your comments?

"Unfortunately the Republican party has an extreme right wing thats wants to be in power.. . . " - - - - - -bam, that's the FIRST accurate, sensible admission you've ever posted. That's progress, man - that's progress. - - I'd only argue one point: "some" - - -All except for Senator Olympia Snowe, (R) Maine & Rep. Steve LaTourette (R) Ohio.....Former Senator George Voinovich (R) Ohio........All fed up with the current 1%, corporate controlled RW GOP. I stated over a year ago, on WDR blog: the true conservative Republican party no longer exists. - - - - - It now consists totally of extreme right wingers. - - - And who voted in the Greed Over People Right wingers? The RW is supported by 1%, billionaires like Addlesen, Koch bros, and Super PACs like Freedom Works, run by former (R) congressman, Dick Armey. Crossroads spin machine run by Karl Rove. - - - - The latter is closely aligned with Clear Channel's Rush Limbaugh, et al, owned by Mitt Romney's Bain capital. - - - Mitt Romney promises to go to war against Iran. Simply put, war is good for business. Many US corporations rely on warfare to line their pockets. - - - - How will the U.S. continue to pay for more wars? Do what Bush W did?- Lower taxes and put them on a Chinese credit card? - - - - bam, do you know how extreme the right wing is? - - - - How do you explain the tea party's stance in 2010 sporting signs: "Government keep your hands off my Medicare." and now they're supporting Congressman Paul Ryan's voucher plan? Why does the tea party support this country becoming a plutocracy?

August 28, 2012 2:19PM

Unfortunately the Republican party has an extreme right wing thats wants to be in power.It will not happen,on the other hand the democrat party HAS an extreme left wing in power and wants more.It is the most important election in our lives.Whether we want government to control every aspect of our lives,or do we want freedom to choose?

August 28, 2012 12:12PM

L.R. Nault and Mitch Mills: Thank you for expressing your opinions, presenting issues, and not resorting to off-the-wall accusations and name-calling. Your letters require the reader to actually think about choices in November and the long-term effects of those choices.